Bottle and flashlight holder and carrier



Feb. 20, 1968 sAARl ET AL BOTTLE AND FLASHLIGHT HOLDER AND CARRIER FiledNov. 50, 1966 Rudy 7, Saar! E/no F Kananen INVENTORS' United StatesPatent C 3,369,723 BOTTLE AND FLASHLIGHT HOLDER AND CARRIER Rudy T.Saari, 517 Zinc St., Bruce Crossing, Mich. 49912, and Eino F. Kananen,Box 57, Ontonagon, Mich. 49953 Filed Nov. 30, 1966, Ser. No. 598,050 6Claims. (Cl. 224-) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The holder and carriershown lends itself to use while hunting, fishing, trapping, boating andfor numerous outdoor purposes. It is preferably, but not necessarily,molded from a tough, weather-resistant grade of rubber. The end productcomprises a specially delineated blank embodying a first elongatedbottle-embracing collar, a flap coplanar with and encircled by saidcollar, said flap having a belt loop, a second bottle embracingelongated collar, and a second cap coplanar with and surrounded by saidsecond collar, said collars and flaps having inner end portions and saidinner end portions being joined together by an intervening connectiveweb.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inan article holder and carrier which is expressly designed and adapted toenable a user thereof to readily and reliably attach the same directlyto his trousers supporting belt and which embodies selfcontainedcomponent parts which function to effectually embrace and support thearticles which are to be transported.

There has long existed a need for a simple, practical and feasible smallarticle holder and carrier which lends itself to acceptable adoption anduse by reason of the fact that it can be attached to the users personand embodies encircling, holding and carrying means for miscellaneousarticles, tools and accessories. Although the invention is ideal for usewhile hunting, fishing, trapping, boating and for similar outdoorssports, it is also desirable and novel in that it is capable ofsatisfactory and convenient use by policemen, firemen, mechanics, andelectricians who in handling work requirements must have quick access toavailable handtools such as hatchets, hammers, rulers and the like.

With the preceding general explanation serving as background informationand comprehending the scope of the objectives it may now be stated,somewhat more explicitly, that the field of invention primarily involvedis that which has to do with hunting, fishing and trapping where forexample the hunter, fisherman or trapper has frequent need for a vacuumbottle, flashlight or like accessory or article. Although it is withinthe scope of the inventive concept to so construct the holder andcarrier that it is capable of attachment to and suspension from ashoulder sling, a strap-type body harness, lanyard or equivalentsupporting and transporting means, it is expressly designed and adaptedfor slidable and detachable direct supporting connection with thetrousers supporting belt of the user.

In carrying out a preferred embodiment of the invention a simple andeconomical flat-faced elongated blank of sheet material is utilized.More explicitly, but not neces sarily, the blank or sheet of materialwhich has been successfully appropriated and used has been, and stillis, a special durometer black all-weather resistant rubber. The blankherein shown and described and which has been experimentally found toprovide the end product and improved results desired, embodies therubbery, tear- "ice resistant, flexible and physical properties desiredand is characterized, generally construed, by a self-attaching andposition-retaining component usually connectible with the aforementionedtrousers belt, and complemental plural article gripping suspending andtransporting components which are predominant in that they aptlyencircle and grippingly hold and store the aforementioned vacuum bottleand flashlight whereby to render the same readily accessible for use.

More explicitly the blank in its initial manufactured state is generallyelongated in plan, flat-faced and has a central web which provides acommon connector for the left and right half portions. One half portion,say the one to the left, is stamped or otherwise constructed to providean elongated flap with slots for the attachment to the aforementionedbelt and an encompassing, encircling and holding collar. This collarcooperates with a similar collar at the right which likewise encompassesor surrounds a second flap similar to the first-named flap. However,this second flap is centrally apertured and functions to provide anencircling holder and carrier for the flashlight.

To the Specific ends desired the left and right article encirclingmembers of collars (FIG. 1) provide the desired means for collaring andcarrying the vacuum bottle and permit it to be bodily swung from anormal vertical carrying position to a generally horizontal butdownwardly inclined position so that its contents can be poured into acup if desired. And also because of the aforementioned common connectingweb between the component parts the flashlight encircling holder can betwisted and positioned so that the flashlight is carried and stored in aready-to-use position close to but not interfering with the verticallysupported vacuum bottle.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view on a relatively small scale showing the rubber, plasticor equivalent elastic sheet or blank embodying the aforementioned leftand right encircling collars and integral left and right companionflaps.

FIG. 2 is a View in perspective showing the manner in which the slottedflap at the left in FIG. 1 is attached to the wearers belt and the twocollars (left and right) are caused to encircle and support a vacuumbottle and the encircling flap at the right is twisted and positioned tocome into play in supporting the flashlight.

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective based on FIG. 2 and whose purpose is toshow how the elasticity and deformation of the component parts cooperatein enabling the user to supportively tilt the vacuum bottle forconvenient use.

Referring now to the views of the drawing, attention is first directedto FIG. 1. The aforementioned flat-faced elongated rubbery or equivalentelastic sheet is denoted by the numeral 6 and is conveniently referredto as a prefabricated or cut out blank. The central or body portionconstitutes an imperforate web 8 which orients and joins the componentparts to the right and left thereof. One part constitutes an elongatedencircling and suspending loop or collar 10 whose free outer end 12 isserrated and suitably shaped for anti-slipping and handling purposes. Afirst flap to the left, the one denoted at 14 is provided with a pair ofsuitably coordinated spaced parallel slots 16 which serve to permit thepassage therethrough of the body encircling-belt B in the manner shownin FIG. 3, that is when the flap 14 comes into use. It should be notedthat the mating marginal edges of the flap and collar 10, respectively,are serrated as at 18 and 20. The corresponding and. companionencircling loop or collar 22 at the right likewise has a serratedterminal end 24 with anti-slipping elements embodied. therein. The righthand flap is denoted at 26v and the coacting or mating edges 28 and 30,respectively, are again serrated and the serrations serve in the mannershown best in FIGS. 2 and 3. This flap 26 is also provided with anelongated slot or opening which is capable of surrounding andretentively gripping the flashlight. The flashlight is denoted at F andthe vacuum bottle at VB. The flashlight and vacuum bottle areconventional and, as stated, while the invention lends itself toattaching and supporting and carrying articles other than a flashlightand vacuum bottle, it simplifies the disclosure to assume here that thearticles which are under consideration are represented as a vacuumbottle and flashlight respectively.

In practice it will be evident that the flap 14 is arranged so that thebelt B is threaded therethrough in the manner shown whereby to thusattach the overall holder and carrier to the users belt. Once the deviceis thus attached both collars and 22 respectively can be stretched,deformed and caused to snugly surround and bind themselves aroundlongitudinally spaced portions of the vacuum bottle to support it in anormal position as illustrated in FIG. 2. The flap 26 is twisted to oneside in the manner brought out in FIG. 2. and the opening means thereofsurrounds the flashlight and consequently supports the flashlight in anaccessible or usable position.

It will also be evident from the views of the drawing and particularlyby comparing FIG. 2 with FIG. 3 that the elastic properties which areinherent in the components of the overall blank make it possible tobodily swing the vacuum bottle from the vertical position to thehorizontal and downwardly inclined position shown in FIG. 3 tofacilitate pouring the liquid contents from the bottle into thecustomary screw-cup or cup in the manner illustrated.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1.. An article holder and carrier of the class described comprising afirst component part which is designed and adapted to be detachably andadjustably mounted on support means, for example, a body encirclingbelt, additional components integral with said first-named component andcapable of attachment to and for supporting and carrying a vacuum bottleor the like, and a complemental component designed and adapted toembrace and to support a second article, a flashlight, for example, inan out-of-the-way stored but ready-to-use position, and wherein saidholder and carrier is characterized by an elongated flat-faced elasticblank having a median web portion, a first flap joined to a left handside of said web portion and surrounded by a relatively movablecollar-like holder, and a second flap integral With and to the right ofsaid web and surrounding by an elongated collar-like holder.

2. The structure defined in and according to claim 1 and wherein saidfirst flap is capable of being detachably and adjustably joined with awearers belt, the same being provided with spaced parallel slotsdefining and providing a belt loop, said second flap being centrallyapertured and providing an elastic collar, said collar being adapted toencircle and yieldingly and retentively grip a flashlight.

3. A bottle and flashlight holder and carrier of the class describedcomprising an elongated flat-faced blank of rubber possessed of theelasticity and deformation properties necessary for flexibility,resilience and wearand-tear resistance and embodying a first elongatedbottle embracing collar, a flap coplanar with and encircled by saidcollar, said flap having a belt loop, a second bottle embracingelongated collar, and a second flap coplanar with and surrounded by saidsecond collar, said collars and flaps having inner corresponding andadjacent ends joined together by an intervening coplanar orientedimperforate flexible and twistable connective web.

4. A body supported holder and carrier for (l) a vacuum bottle and (2)flashlight comprising: an elongated flexible blank made of toughweather-resistant elastic material provided midway between opposite endportions with a bendably resilient web, provided on one side of said Webwith a first flap having means temporarily and detachably connectiblewith the users trousers supporting belt, said flap being marginallyencompassed by a complemental normally coplanar but relatively movablefirst collar structurally adapted to snugly embrace a predeterminedportion of said vacuum bottle, provided on an opposite side of said webwith a second flap marginally encompassed by a normally coplanarcomplemental second collar cooperable with said first collar andlikewise structurally adapted to snugly embrace a predetermined portionof said vacuum bottle, the respective inner adjacent end portions ofsaid flaps and collars, respectively, being integrally flexibly joinedto said web.

5. The holder and carrier defined in and according to claim 4, andwherein said first flap has a pair of spaced parallel slots cooperatingin providing a belt loop, said second flap having a centralized openingand providing an auxiliary collar designed and adapted to encircle andyieldingly grip and support a readily applicable and removableflashlight.

6. The holder and carrier defined in and according to claim 5, andwherein certain marginal edge portions of said flaps and collars,respectively, are serrated and wherein the serrations provideselectively usable antislipping handling elements.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,112,339 3/1938 Kasparek 224-52,894,119 7/1959 Stenger 224-5 3,130,803 4/1964 MacKool 2242.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

R. I. SPAR, Assistant Examiner.

